What the what???

[brib68]

So...Mom was just here for her yearly visit East and as I was Bobloading the dishwasher and putting the Finish Quantum cube-y thing in it's compartment and closing the little door, she brings up that she is getting just terrible results with Cascade With Dawn. After some discussion, it turns out that some appliance repairman told her--get this--that she "needed to NOT put in the the closed cup, but rather toss it in the tub at the start of the cycle." Why, you ask? "Because the Dawn is there for the pre-wash so it melts first, then the Cascade releases in the regular wash cycle. Once I picked my jaw up off the floor, I tried to explain just how wrong that repairman's "thinking" was, which was not easy while trying to keep my language "mom safe".

Where do people come up with these ideas?

 

[DADoES]

 
From the deep, addled recesses of their minds.

 

[brib68]

You're being mighty charitable there, DADoES!

 

[neptuneguy27]

That's nothing

Back in May I was having my dishwasher repaired and the tech from Miele told me that after seeing my jar Cascade pacs on the counter "you don't need any detergent whatsoever! The water in the machine is hot enough to melt the grease and dirt off the dishes!" To which I replied "well what keeps it in suspension if there is no detergent to tie it up?!" That was met with a deer-in-the-headlights look. I kindly thanked him but said I'll take care of what goes in the machine thank you very much.

 

[logixx]

A salesman told my grandma to keep the door of her Miele FL washer shut all the time... so dust wouldn't get in.

 

[neptuneguy27]

"so dust wouldn't get in"

That's actually quite funny! LOL

 

[arbilab]

Dust wouldn't get in.....

..... but cats, ferrets, and small children might.

No detergent eh? Well, goobermint and mfrs have been telling us we don't need water so why is this a surprise?

 

[mrboilwash]

I`d put the blame on advertising agencies continiously comming up with marketing BS like "With Dawn" or "Powerball" or "Gel is more powerful than Liquid".
In deed there had been attempts to create intelligent coatings for dishwashing tabs which release different chemicals at different stages of the cycle, but AFAIK they never made it to the real market, because of too many variations of dishwashers, cycles and temperatures involved.
Those multi-benefit tabs we get today simply work by overdosing so there is a "carry-over effect" of the (overdosed) surfactants into the last rinse, eliminating the need for a separate rinse aid.
In the case of Finish powerball it is marketed as a powerbooster, rinse aid ball or whatever depending on different market expectations.
In fact its only purpose is to make the tab look nice and different from other makes.

 

[brib68]

Oh, NeptuneGuy!

What's better than a Mad Magazine "snappy comeback"? An intelligent response that completely baffles!

 

[delaneymeegan]

Upon having two new AC condenser units installed, a furnace "tech" told my parents that to keep mold from forming in the lower level of their house, they should leave the furnace fan running ALWAYS. This is the fan in an, expensive to replace, multi-speed, hi-effic. gas furnace.

Meanwhile conditions in the house were miserable from the constant noise and sticky conditions, even when it's cool out. Add to that a constant horrible cough with my mother, which quickly cleared up after I told her what was up. Their electric bill [shaking head]. And they just don't question it.

I have to adore their innocence. There was a time when repairmen and delivery men were there to do just that.
These days, its clear, they hope to sucker the older crowds into spending money on more junk. The older crowds seem to be set with the idea that simply spending money on something will make things better. Or the MORE you spend, the better it is. NO. I feel sorry for them.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

 @delaneymeegan:

The a/c units didn't keep the house dry when they were running? Or did the "tech" make another mistake you forgot to mention?

Personally, I'm always suspicious of a scam when a family member (usually older, but not always) tells me he/she was told that something is "necessary" but clearly has no idea why.  

My mom is the same way, almost innocent. One thing I have figured out is that she grew up in a time when people were much more polite, or at least civil than when I grew up.
 
Your lucky your parents listen to you. My dad never did and my mom is only now starting to.

 

[delaneymeegan]

warmsecondrinse

The condensers needed to be replaced. They were installed in about 1996 and were low SEER Goodmans. They had the furnaces installed around 2004. I still haven't sussed out how much they got shafted for the new A/C units, which look like the newest version of a cheap Goodman low SEER unit.

The problem is, when he was here, he told them to leave the fan on ALL the time. Fan motors which, I understand, are about $800 each (x2), to keep mold growing the lower level they can't even use anymore. I can just hear the scammer trying to sell them new furnaces when the motors burn up. "It just doesn't pay to replace the motor when the furnace is XXXX years old.... should just get new" Never mind the fact you can buy Goodman Furnaces and AC units on Ebay starting at around $500.00 each.

"Personally, I'm always suspicious of a scam when a family member (usually older, but not always) tells me he/she was told that something is "necessary" " I agree.

"One thing I have figured out is that she grew up in a time when people were much more polite" true. AND, they and their parents never had experience with these appliances, either.

Our society has progressed so fast in the last 90 years or so, compared to any other time in history. So many changes, especially for the generations that saw such changes as those in the 50s to 70s. Things really haven't changed that much since 1980. For those that were brought up with outhouses and non-automatic heating, no dishwasher, washing clothes by hand, etc. ..... they have little experience to fall back on.

When my parents married in 58, and moved to their first house, and got their first automatic washer, it was a gift from heaven. When I was 20, I expected and already had had several. Etc.

Do your parents get possessive about something they think they are doing right and they think they are at the pinnacle of knowledge on?

My parents have 2 desk top computers. one of which is 10 years old. They just think they are up there with the best. LOL. Don't get me started on how a peer of theres was way over charging them every couple of months for bogus repairs. They figured that one out.

http://https//youtu.be/uji8ACDgVGA

 

[warmsecondrinse]

About 10 years ago my parents decided they "had" to replace the kitchen appliances and the furnance (gas fired forced warm air). They had a '67 BOL Kenmore bottom freezer that not once, not ever had any problems except that a plastic cog in the heater timer for the automatic defrost wore out every 4 years, a late '70's Kitchen KA Superba that needed new racks but was otherwise faultless, the '68 Magic Chef with upper oven that came with the house and was flawless, and a furnace that was less than 10 years old and running fine.

The new stove is a conventional 30" with no upper oven which is outright f*cked up because my mom is 5'10" with a bad back. She had a fight with my dad back in 68 insisting on having an upper oven because she refused to stoop. Both the new 'fridge and the new stove are too big for the space and block use of cabinets, etc. so I know there was some kind of con job involved

It's not/wasn't so much that my parents think/thought (Dad has Alzheimer's) they were the pinnacle of knowledge. It was always more the other way. They always treated me like I was "Rain Man" (Dustin Hoffman) but with better social skills. I.e. I had areas of expertise, but was generally clueless about life and understood very little of what went on around me. When I asked why all the appliances and the furnace needed to be replaced I got vague, nonsensical answers about it "being time" and how it "made economic sense". I.e. things one would say to person who had cognitive disabilities and couldn't understand the real reasons for something.

I think you're right in that a major issue is the proverbial generation gap. My parents are both college educated professionals, yet very little of what they taught me about the world & how it works and about people in general has turned out to be true. It's like we grew up on different planets.

The question is, what do we do? guard them like they're little kids, lol?

Jim

 

[askolover]

My parents

have started consulting me for repairs, appliance advice, research reliability of furnaces and a/c's...heck, my dad calls me to work on his truck sometimes.  I learned everything I know from him!  They don't even own a computer! 

 

[washer111]

Furnace/A-C Fan in "ON" Mode

While the A/C unit might be VERY capable of removing humidity - with the fan set to "ON," the coils will basically evaporate most of that back into the air while the condenser is cycled off - particularly in cooler, wet conditions. 

 

My example - Our A/C, despite being oversized, will keep a setpoint of 80ºF at about 35-40% humidity, even when outdoor temperatures are 80-85º and 70-90% humidity. As its oversized, it only runs for about 10-15 minutes before staying off for at least 15-20.

With the fan in "ON," the humidity in these conditions is doubled. 

Fan On mode would only serve to foster new mould growth. 

 

This reason is why I have such disdain for "minisplit" conditioners. Most sold in Australia have an "Auto" fan mode that simply modulates speed to the where the temperature is at, in relation to the thermostat temperature. The fan never cycles off, and thus humidity remains higher. Not to mention the mediocre filtering capability of the flyscreen they use in these units... 

 

One silly "What the What???" I've heard is that using an Automatic transmission in "manual mode" is a quick way to destroy it. I'm sorry - but the only thing you are doing in this instance is taking away some control from the computer or mechanical system responsible for shifting. Really, its only good for "kickdown" when the transmission otherwise won't play ball, or for holding it in a lower gear when idling around the city. 

The only time I might accept this reasoning is using the older French made, GM transmission (Shriek!) on old BMW's in their "Winter Mode," where if you selected "3," "2," or "1," THAT is the gear it runs in. So you can potentially overtorque/lug the gearbox and hurt it. Thankfully, traction control has removed the need for such 'intelligent' shifting protocols and options!

 

[delaneymeegan]

warmsecondrinse,

You wrote: "When I asked why all the appliances and the furnace needed to be replaced I got vague, nonsensical answers about it "being time" and how it "made economic sense". "

That's a good example. They repeat advertising slang. But sadly, they don't know that the new stuff isn't anywhere as good a quality as what they have.

Sometimes people will keep old appliances by putting them out in a garage or something. At least that way one can change their mind and go back to the original stuff, but most people don't think of that. Or the purchase was dependent on a trade-in.
It's a shame.

I got my parents a Kitchen aid Superba KD-20, I think it was. It was the last of the Hobart made DWs from around 1996. They had that until 2013 and it was working fine but needed a new lower rack. Easy enough. They went and bought a new Bosch, which is quiet enough but doesn't seem to clean very well. It's like they traded in fine wine for cool-aid.

washer111

You wrote: "While the A/C unit might be VERY capable of removing humidity - with the fan set to "ON," the coils will basically evaporate most of that back into the air while the condenser is cycled off - particularly in cooler, wet conditions."

That could be what was going on. It was really uncomfortable inside, even though it would only be like 65 outside. Thanks for that description.

One would think a constant flow of humid air, neither Hot nor ice cold, to ductwork would encourage mold growth.

 

[askolover]

Scare tactics

A lot of these people use the scare routine to drum up sales.  I was in HD a few weeks ago and a representative from a local HVAC company stopped me in the aisle wanting to talk about a new system.  When she found out mine is 15 years old, she said "why don't we come take a look and give you an estimate?  After all, it's getting old and you don't want to be stuck when it quits."  I just said "NO" and kept walking.  If it quits, I'm prepared...both bedrooms have small window units and there's an unvented gas heater in the living room.  I won't be bullied and I'll call whomever I want to when I need to.  Why would I spend a dollar to save a dime?  Just like my car, drive it til it quits!  Who cares if it has 220k miles on it?  It still runs flawlessly and when it does quit, I have two others I can drive.  My grandparents used to trade cars just because "it was time".

 

[brib68]

Update

Got a text from my mom: she tried my way (a/k/a the correct way) of putting the Cascade tab in the main wash compartment instead of tossing it in the tub at the start as the repairman advised. Lo and Behold! Clean dishes, and a healthy distrust of advice given by the Sears repairman.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

The main reason I suspect they somehow got duped is that having such vague, non-sensical reasons was so UNlike my parents.

My mom officially admitted for the record that she should have spent the $$ and just replaced the racks on her KA Superba instead of buying a new washer. She has also promised not to get rid of her Kenmore Series 80. I just need to remember to bring the new dogs on my next trip up.

My parents second furnace (the one replaced for no known reason) had a manual fan setting in which it cycled on and off. With 2 a/c's in 2nd floor windows and a dehumidifier in basement the fan would run and keep all dry. Could you explain how it's different in your situation? I don't get how this causes the humidity to rise. I suspect I'm missing something basic. Or were the units oversized to begin with? Thanks.

Jim